LDS Authors – LDS Women's Book Review

Support these LDS authors by voting on Kindle Scout

Jan 272016

Hello again, and how I’ve missed you all! Life took me away for a little while, but I’m back now to let you know how you can support LDS authors on Kindle Scout.

If you are unfamiliar with Kindle Scout, authors submit their unpublished books for 30 days and readers nominate their favorite books. If a book is selected it will be published by Kindle Press.

The beauty of this is that readers have a say in what books get published. Readers can also receive a free copy of the books they nominate (as per the terms found here).

Janette Rallison, Heather B. Moore (under her YA pen name), and Rachelle Christensen are LDS authors who have been successful with Kindle Scout. Listed below are LDS Authors who are currently participating and need your nominations (days left to nominate are as of 1/27/2016):

Two Runs of Stone – Full Circle by STEVEN D. NIELSEN (3 days left)

Orison by BRANDON GRAY (Braden Bell) (16 days left)

Echoes of Silence by ELANA JOHNSON (15 days left)

Wandaful by MICHAEL D. YOUNG (22 days left)

Death Thieves by JULIE WRIGHT (25 days left)

The best thing about the LDS reading/writing community is how supportive we are of each other, so go nominate! You might even get a free book.

A Way Back to You by Emily Gray Clawson – Blog Tour

Posted by Shanda Blog Tours, Book Reviews, Shanda's Reviews

Jun 102013

A Way Back to You

Author: Emily Gray Clawson

Publisher: Deseret Book

Published Date: 2013

Paperback/ebook: 208 pages

Genre: Romance

ISBN# 978-1609075217

Reviewed by: Shanda

FTC FYI: received a temporary digital review copy that will be removed from my device after a short period of time

Summary

What would you do if you were given a second chance?

Annabelle, whom nearly everyone calls Anne, has been stuck in the past for two years. Numbed by grief over her husband’s unexpected death and overwhelmed with the responsibility of raising their three young children alone, Anne agrees to let a friend take the kids for the weekend while she tries to get some much-needed rest at her parent’s home.

But when Anne wakes up the next morning, she is suddenly sixteen again. And it just happens to be the worst day she spent as a teenager.

High school the second time around brings unforeseen changes and frustrations, but remembering that her future husband, Mitch, has just returned from a mission and is living on the other side of town gives Anne hope. Getting Mitch’s attention (for the second time) is more complicated than she could have imagined, but Anne discovers she is stronger than she believed possible—and there just might be a future for her after all.

Review

I can honestly say I’ve never read a book quite like this one. As a reviewer, I love to discover books that surprise me. A Way Back to You did so more than once.

The book starts out on a more serious note with Annie, a mother of three young children and a widow of three years, struggling through one of the hardest days of her life since losing her husband. Instead of coming across as depressing or overly heavy, though, it was an intriguing and relatable opening, at least as far as the hard mothering days. By midway through the second chapter I was emotionally invested in Anne’s story, even blinking back a few tears as I read.

It had been a while since I read the summary for A Way Back to You, so I was pleasantly surprised when Anne awoke as a teenager. I enjoy time travel books, but don’t read many where the character travels back to a time in their own life. The clothing descriptions took me back to my own high school years. The frequent tears and mood swings experienced by Anne as her 38-year-old intellect dealt with frustrating teenage hormones made me grateful I would never be a teenager again.

The romance aspect of the story embraced both the more mature love of married adults as well as the teenage crush-turned-love experiences. I was satisfied with the romantic resolution and glad for Annie, though I could see how some might consider it a little too convenient. My romantic heart was happy with the ending, though, and I think other readers who enjoy a good clean romance will like it, too. I definitely look forward to reading more from Emily.

Visit Emily:

BLOG | FACEBOOK | GOOGLE + | TWITTER

Find A Way Back to You:

DESERET BOOK | DB BOOKSHELF | KINDLE | GOODREADS

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Interview with author Toni Sorenson for Utah Book Month

Posted by Shanda Special Features, Utah Book Month

Aug 162012

Visit the Utah Books blog for details on Utah Book Month, book blogger interviews, author interviews, mini-challenges and a GRAND GIVEAWAY with some great prizes!

* * * * *

SHANDA: How long have you been writing?

TONI: I started writing when I was very young, maybe third grade. In fourth grade I kind of high-jacked this play called Shoemaker and the Elves and turned it into a play that our whole school put on. We got out early that day and I was the hero for about half an hour. It made me realize the power of writing…you can make people think and do things you want them to. That’s a real and sacred power of the pen.

I really can’t recall a time when I wasn’t writing or making up stories or telling tales. My children call it creative lying.

SHANDA: Is there a book or book-related event that changed your life?

TONI: I was never read to as a child. Never. So I guess I did it on my own, but the first book I remember reading was Gone With the Wind. No lie. I was in fifth grade and I fell in love with the whole epic saga. I read it and re-read it and lived at Tara in my imagination. It was obsessive. I think I watched the movie 11 times in a row. Then I replaced that with Jeremiah Johnson, a book Robert Redford made into a movie. Then it was Jaws. Jaws was written so vividly that I actually threw up at the description of the first shark attack. Again, words have power to make people feel and they made me feel like puking!

SHANDA: Do you have a personal or family motto or a favorite quote?

TONI: I adore quotes. All kinds. I love to know what other people think and feel and experience. At the moment the quote that’s on my mirror came from me. I hope that it doesn’t seem too egotistical, but it’s a personal quote that I’d like to share with you all because it’s something I believe wholeheartedly. Lately, I’ve put it to the test and found it to be true. “Strength comes from struggle. When you learn to see your struggles as opportunities to become stronger, better, wiser, then your thinking shifts from ‘I can’t do this’ to ‘I must do this.'”

SHANDA: What is the strangest food you have ever eaten?

TONI: I love, love, love to travel so I’ve eaten all sorts of things. In Asia there was this fruit that was white and slimy and I swear to it, alive. I don’t remember the name, but it was like putting a bite of pear in your mouth that wiggled around while you chewed it. It was creepy and awesome at the same time. I sort of felt like Ursula in “The Little Mermaid,” remember when she ate the little living creatures?

SHANDA: Do you have a favorite day of the week? (Or, Is there a TV show you cannot miss?)

TONI: I’m not a tv addict, but I do get into entire series and watch from one end to the other. “Downton Abby” is the latest conquest. I adored it.

Favorite day of the week? Any day that allows me time to pray in nature, creativity to flow in my writing, and being able to spend time with the people I love. My best days are honestly the days when, as they say, I do something for the first time. Anything. Eat at a new cafe. Make a new recipe. Hike a new trail. Meet a new friend. Add to my limited vocabulary of foreign words. I’m trying to master French right now and it’s going to take me a long, long time.

SHANDA: What books are at the top of your to-read list?

TONI: I just re-read Catcher in the Rye. This summer I went through a bunch of top 100 books to read and made a list of the ones I haven’t read and I was surprised at how many books I have not read. Michael Cunningham is one of the great writers of our era, but he’s a little harsh for a lot of people. He wrote The Hours. I love his writing. I love to read so put any book in front of me and I’m a gonner. Right now I’m reading Crucial Conversations so I can better communicate verbally. It’s something I need to learn, trust me.

I am so grateful for the chance to share my works with you all. I’m so excited because I have a new book coming out titled Taking Back What’s Yours. It’s a self-help, motivational type book that empowers people who have suffered to regain whatever they’ve lost. It has changed my life just writing it. I am also heart-deep into a YA fantasy series that’s different than anything I ever imagined writing, but I’m enjoying it more than anything. I can’t wait to share it with you all. Thanks again and blessings to you all!

SHANDA: Thank you so much, Toni!

Do YOU have a personal or family motto or favorite quote?

Murder By the Way by Betsy Brannon Green – Combined Review

Posted by Shanda Book Reviews, Combined Reviews

Jul 302012

Murder By the Way

Author: Betsy Brannon Green

Publisher: Covenant Communications

Published Date: June 2012

Paperback; 280 pages

Genre: Mystery-Suspense

ISBN# 978-1-62108-123-4

Reviewed by: Shanda & Sheila

FTC FYI: review copy in exchange for an honest review

Summary

As Kennedy Killingsworth prepares to step into the next phase of her life alongside her soon-to-be husband, Luke, the past reemerges and interrupts with full force. Luke is suddenly called away to testify at a Marine Corps trial and is forced to leave Kennedy soon after they are declared husband and wife. Then an old business associate, Drake Langston, announces he is returning to Midway to finish renovating the town and needs Kennedy’s help to smooth things over with the locals. Kennedy jumps on board to distract herself from Luke’s absence. Little does she know that there will soon be plenty to distract her. After an unexplainable prison van accident leaves a woman dead and three prisoners missing, the town feels rattled and worried. As Kennedy (and her ex-husband, Cade) gets involved in investigating the crash, more and more mysterious events unfold, and if she’s not careful, she could be the next murder by the way.

First Line

“My second wedding day was off to a perfect start.”

Find Murder By the Way:

GOODREADS | AMAZON | KINDLE | DESERET BOOK | SEAGULL BOOK

Shanda’s Review

I really enjoyed the first two books in this series (Murder By the Book and Murder By Design) so I was excited to receive Murder By the Way for review. The beginning of the story was more “tell” than the rest as Kennedy reviews the events of the last little while, but the writing is good. Once things got going, it didn’t take long for me to find the rhythm of the story.

While Kennedy is an interesting character to me, and I’ve enjoyed seeing a bit of her toughness soften with her love for Luke, it is Luke that is my favorite character. Due to a sudden military trial, their wedding is rushed and Luke must leave to testify immediately after the reception. This means that he is “physically” gone for a large portion of the story, but with phone calls and texts to Kennedy he remains peripherally involved.

Another favorite character is Sloan. He is a former FBI agent, and I liked not knowing if he was a good guy or a bad guy. His actions could lead either way, and it isn’t until the end that the reader learns whether he is good or bad. (I’m not saying!)

One thing I was glad to see was that Cade, Kennedy’s ex-husband, steps up and we get to see the better side of him. He has a hunch and follows through, setting the mystery in motion.

Several of the well-known characters from Betsy’s previous novels are back, as frustrating as ever. And what would a Betsy Brannon Green mystery be without Miss Eugenia?

I enjoyed the story and was happy to be surprised by the twist at the end. It played out differently than I thought it would and I was satisfied with how the story ended. The last few pages of the book are recipes and I can’t wait to try Miss Eugenia’s S’more Cookies. All in all, a great third installment of the Kennedy Killingsworth series.

Sheila’s Review

Murder By the Way is the third book in the Kennedy Killingsworth series. It is just as good as the first two books in the series. I love the inclusion of the familiar and comfortable characters that Betsy Brannon Green’s readers have come to know and love. Some examples are Miss Eugena, Miss Ida Jean, Winston, Mark and Kate. These are characters from The Haggerty Series that I absolutely love!

Once again Betsy’s books are full of mystery, intrigue, humor, and of course a lot of good food that the characters are cooking and eating. Recipes are always included at the end of the book. One that I want to try the most is, Miss Eugenia’s S’More Cookies. In the book she deep fries them, but I think I will bake them the normal way. I also want to try, Miss Iris’s Lemon Chicken, which is a little bit healthier than the cookies.

I really like Kennedy in this book, but I wish that there had been more of her new husband, Luke. He has become one of my favorite characters. There wasn’t as much action as there had been in book two, but there was plenty of “interaction” with the characters. The characters had more opportunities to figure out things mentally this time around. The ending played out almost how I have been figuring it would, but with some added twists and turns. I wasn’t disappointed in the end, and it just made me look forward to the next book in the series. At least I hope that there is more to come. I am adding this book to my list of quick, summer reads. You can read this alone, but I highly suggest that you read book one and two in the series first. I give this book 4 stars.

2012 LDStorymakers Conference – Part Two

Posted by Shanda LDStorymakers & Whitney Awards, Special Features

May 092012

We had a great time at the 2012 LDStorymakers Conference this past weekend. It’s like a big family reunion every year. The presentations were educational and the M.C. was as funny as ever. (Feeling any better, Sarah? Curse that construction dust!)

The signing Friday night was huge. SO many authors were in attendance. Sheila packed her rolling suitcase full of books. No, I’m not joking. :)

Here are several photos from this past weekend. Most, if not all, of these were taken with my new iPhone, so I make no claims about their quality or lack thereof due to poor lighting. :)

Krista Lynn Jensen, Shanda, and Danyelle Ferguson

Sheila, Kimberley Griffiths Little, and Shanda

Sheila and Kelly Nelson

Lani Woodland, Amber Argyle, and Kathi Oram Peterson

Becca Wilhite, Shanda, and Krista Lynn Jensen

Jenni James and Shanda

Josi S. Kilpack, Shanda, N.C. Allen, and Sheila

Melanie Jacobson, Don Carey, Diony George, and Jennifer Ann Holt

Julianne Donaldson and Nicole Giles

Shanda and Melanie Jacobson

LuAnn Staheli and Sarah M. Eden

Shanda, Stephanie Black, and Sheila

Shanda, Lani Woodland, and Sheila

As you can see, we had so much fun. We can’t wait until next year!

2012 LDStorymakers Conference – Part One

Posted by Shanda LDStorymakers & Whitney Awards, Special Features

May 052012

I look forward to LDStorymakers Conference almost as much as Christmas. Maybe more.

Even though I live only 45 minutes away, I book a hotel room and show up Thursday and stay until Sunday. It’s the only time each year my kids get the chance to miss me. Or not. :)

The craziest dinner I’ve ever attended was Thursday’s dinner at La Dolce Vita. There was such a good turn out that we couldn’t hear the person sitting next to us without yelling. Oh yes, we might all be writers, but we are excellent talkers, too.

There were easily 50 or 60 or 75 or more people packed into that large room. See for yourself…

Sheila and I were next to Lisa Mangum and Sheralyn Pratt and we had a great time with these amazing women. I snagged a pic with Lisa, Sheralyn and Julianne Donaldson, author of Edenbrooke (which I loved!)

We also found our sweet friend, Chantele Sedgwick.

There were so many great people at the dinner that we didn’t get a chance to get photos with so we’ll try to fix that over the next two days of the conference.

I’m already looking forward to next year’s dinner. And maybe I’ll bring earplugs, lol.

Older Entries